The DNC data breach

Post by vvanders » Fri, Dec 18, 2015, 11:11 PM UTC

jdnier wrote: post #18

sethbannon wrote: post #16

For those that are not familiar with the space, campaigns typically use voter contact software to record the results of the conversations they have with potential voters on the phones, at the doors, and over the Internet. In this case, the voter contact software that both the Hillary and Sanders campaigns were using, NGP VAN, had a bug which allowed both campaigns to access each other's private, proprietary data (in…

Here's an interview the Sanders campaign staffer who was fired gave explaining just what you describe: http://www.msnbc.com/thomas-roberts/watch/fired-sanders-camp...

Post by smadge » Fri, Dec 18, 2015, 11:16 PM UTC

slg wrote: post #28

smadge wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it is pretty unreasonable. As you note, there is no technical reason to deny the Bernie campaign access to their data. The Bernie campaign has fully indicated they want and are willing to cooperate with a third party investigation into the data breach, which would require investigating both campaigns, the DNC, and NPG VAN. Given they are already willing to share everything they know about the incident, there…

There is no technical reason, but that doesn't mean there is no reason. Sanders campaign may have violated rules. The DNC has thrown them in jail without bail in hopes that it gets things resolved quickly. I have no problem with that. If the DNC drags this process out that would be a very different story.

Post by jdnier » Fri, Dec 18, 2015, 11:18 PM UTC

slg wrote: post #31

jdnier wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is that the DNC contracts with VAN to manage the voter files for all fifty states. It's a shared database, with candidates able to build up their own data on top. All the campaigns can see the underlying voter data, but they additions they make are private to the individual campaign. The Sanders campaign staffers realized they were able to see Clinton campaign data they should not have access to. Tha…

>The Sanders people didn't abuse the bug in any significant way, in fact they reported it. That is pure conjecture and I'm not even sure the Sanders campaign would agree with you considering they have fired a staffer over this.

Post by toomuchtodo » Fri, Dec 18, 2015, 11:21 PM UTC

slg wrote: post #26

sethbannon wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not technically difficult but incredibly tedious. First, you have to go out and collect it from all 50 Secretaries of State, and in come cases county officials. Some states send you the data on a CD (no joke). You then have to clean the data, which is often not in great shape, and then normalize it. Even then, you only have a snapshot, because the states typically don't keep historical data. What this means is that y…

Except it wasn't just a list of voters. It also included "client scores". That means the Sanders campaign had access to modelling information regarding the Clinton campaign's list. It is pretty valuable knowing how the other campaign values and/or targets specific voters and that is something that obviously can't be found from public info.

Post by occsceo » Fri, Dec 18, 2015, 11:27 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #17

sethbannon wrote: post #16

For those that are not familiar with the space, campaigns typically use voter contact software to record the results of the conversations they have with potential voters on the phones, at the doors, and over the Internet. In this case, the voter contact software that both the Hillary and Sanders campaigns were using, NGP VAN, had a bug which allowed both campaigns to access each other's private, proprietary data (in…

Difficulty level in replicating this dataset from secretary of state rolls?